Begonia plant named ‘Bbtosca’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘Bbtosca’, characterized by its medium-sized, upright and mounded plant habit; double flowers with orange-colored tepals; and excellent flower longevity.

Botanical designation: Begonia×hiemalis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Bbtosca’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically known as Begonia×hiemalis, commercially known as Elatior Begonia, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Bbtosca’.

The new Begonia was discovered and selected by the Inventor in a controlled environment in Odense, Denmark in April, 1999, as a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Begonia×hiemalis ‘Batik’, not patented. The new Begonia was observed as a single plant in a group of flowering plants of the parent cultivar.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia by cuttings in a controlled environment in Odense, Denmark since 2000, has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Bbtosca’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Bbtosca’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Bbtosca’ as a new and distinct Begonia:

-   -   1. Medium-sized, upright and mounded plant habit.     -   2. Double flowers with orange-colored tepals.     -   3. Excellent flower longevity.

Plants of the new Begonia can be compared to plants of the parent, the cultivar Batik. Plants of the new Begonia differ primarily from plants of the cultivar Batik in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are more vigorous than plants of         the cultivar Batik.     -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have more tepals per flower than         plants of the cultivar Batik.     -   3. Plants of the new Begonia and the cultivar Batik differ in         tepal color as plants of the cultivar Batik have orange         red-colored tepals.

Plants of the new Begonia can also be compared to plants of the cultivar Bente, not patented. However flower color of plants of the new Begonia is lighter orange than flower color of plants of the cultivar Bente.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Begonia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Begonia.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Bbtosca’.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘Bbtosca’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands during the spring and summer, and grown under conditions typical of commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 15 to 20° C. and light levels were about 18,000 lux. Plants used for the photograph and the description were grown in 13-cm containers and were about three months old when the photograph and description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×hiemalis cultivar Bbtosca. -   Commercial classification: Elatior Begonia. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of     Begonia×hiemalis cultivar Batik, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About two weeks at temperatures of             20° C.         -   Time to develop roots.—About five weeks at temperatures of             20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous and well-branched. Plants of             the new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and habit.—Medium-sized, upright and mounded             plant habit; freely branching with about five or six basal             branches per plant. Moderately vigorous. Vegetative shoots             are formed at basal nodes and flowering shoots are formed at             upper nodes.         -   Plant height.—About 20 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 20 to 25 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 9 to 14 cm. Diameter: About             1 to 3 cm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144B.         -   Leaves.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length: About 7 to             8 cm. Width: About 5 to 6 cm. Shape: Roughly ovate;             asymmetrical. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Oblique. Margin: Doubly             crenate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; velvety. Venation pattern: Palmate. Color:             Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close             to 136A. Developing and fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 139A. Venation, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 136B. Petiole length: About 4 to 6 cm. Petiole             diameter: About 1 to 4 mm. Petiole color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 136B. Stipule quantity: One to two per             leaf. Stipule size: About 1 cm by 1 cm. Stipule texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Stipule color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 136A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Double flowers with about 10 to 20 tepals             per flower; flowers arranged in axillary cymes; about five             to six open flowers per cyme; numerous cymes in flower             simultaneously; about 25 to 30 open flowers per plant.             Flowers positioned above and beyond the foliage and face             upright to outwardly. Flowers not fragrant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Under natural daylight conditions,             plants flower from spring until the fall. Flower initiation             and development is induced by long day/short night             conditions. Flowering continuous under photoinductive             conditions.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about four to five             weeks on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Cyme height.—About 4 to 5 cm.         -   Cyme diameter.—About 5 to 7 cm.         -   Flowers.—Shape: Oval to rounded; double. Diameter: About 4             to 5 cm. Depth (height): About 1 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 to 1.5 cm. Diameter: About             2 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 19D.         -   Tepals.—Arrangement: Rosette. Shape: Obovate to rounded.             Apex: Rounded to obtuse. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.             Length: About 2 to 3 cm. Width: About 3 to 4 cm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color:             When opening, upper surface: 28C. When opening, lower             surface: 19D. Fully opened, upper surface: 30D; color             becomes closer to 44D with development. Fully opened, lower             surface: 24D.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity: Two per flower. Arrangement:             Opposite. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape:             Broadly cordate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 30D.         -   Peduncles.—Angle: About 30 to 45° from vertical. Length:             About 4 to 5 cm. Diameter: About 3 to 4 mm. Strength:             Strong. Texture: Smooth. Color: 144B.         -   Pedicels.—Angle: About 30 to 45° from vertical. Length:             About 2 to 3 cm. Diameter: About 2 to 3 mm. Strength:             Strong. Texture: Smooth. Color: 30D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed. Pistils: None             observed.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed             as reproductive organs are not formed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Begonia have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Begonia. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named ‘Bbtosca’, as illustrated and described. 